Sheriff hopefuls Craig Hunter and Bill Hunt spent plenty of time at a candidate forum Tuesday laying into incumbent Sandra Hutchens, but they still found a few moments to snipe at each other.

The subject was Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is famous for his efforts at rounding up illegal immigrants and who is being investigated by the FBI for abuse of authority. Hunter pointed out that Arpaio’s November visit to his city in support of Hunt’s candidacy cost the city and taxpayers, since the controversial visitor caused police reinforcements to be called out on overtime pay in case any disturbances arose.

Hunt, the most aggressive candidate speaking before the Tustin Area Republican Assembly, responded that Arpaio’s support meant more to him than Hunter’s criticism. Hunter came back with a reference to the legal issues facing Arpaio.

As I wrote in my story on the forum, Hutchens was attacked, among other things, for being too strict in dealing out concealed weapons permits – she countered that she’s approved 90 percent of applications. Additionally, Hunter warned that she could be bringing Los Angeles-stye law enforcement to Orange County. She’s a retired L.A. Sheriff’s Department division chief but has lived in Dana Point for 15 years.

Joking turns sour

Two O.C. councilmen joked recently about how to reduce maternity leave among police dispatchers. But judging from the anonymous tips I received, not everybody’s laughing.

The incident occurred at the November directors meeting of West Cities Police Communications, a public entity that handles police dispatch calls for the cities of Seal Beach, Cypress and Los Alamitos. The Board of Directors is composed of a council member from each city. Two of those were on hand – Cypress’ Todd W. Seymore and Seal Beach’s Mike Levitt.

In a discussion of a budget overrun on overtime personnel costs, dispatch administrator Lisa Barr explained that there was more maternity leave than usual. Barr commented that she couldn’t make dispatchers not get pregnant. On the recording of the meeting, an unidentified male voice is heard making a muffled comment that sounds like, “Yes, you can.”

Then Seymore says, “Little blue pill in their water? No…”

Levitt says, “Just hire guys.” There is laughter.

Seal Beach City Manager David N. Carmany seems to quickly realize the conversation would be best redirected.

“Oh no, no,” he says. “Time out. You didn’t hear that.”

The laughter fades as Barr continues her discussion of the budget and the bureaucratic somberness of the meeting resumes.

“It was all meant in levity,” Seymore told me. “It wasn’t meant in any way to be hurtful or disrespectful to women. It was said in a joking manner. If somebody was offended, they have my apology.”

Levitt expressed a similar sentiment and West Comm’s lawyer, Sandra Levin, said the agency fully supports maternity leave.

An online poll shows opinion split over the offensiveness of the exchange. More than five dozen comments expressed a range of views, from issues of hiring discrimination to family leave politics to those who defended the joking as innocent and harmless. And there were plenty of variations, such as the woman who said she doesn’t plan to have babies and doesn’t want to have to help pay for those who do.

To hear the audio recording, vote in the poll, and share your comments, visit ocregister.com/buzz.

Martin Wisckol has been the Register's politics writer and weekly Buzz columnist since 1998, and was given the title of political editor by a generous boss in 2011. He started his career writing about surfing and music, but has written predominantly about government and politics since 1985. He has held reporting positions in his hometown of San Diego, as well as in Detroit, Jacksonville and Miami. Along the way, he has put in extended stints in Japan, South America and Switzerland. His work has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Headliner Awards, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Florida Press Club, among others.

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